Petroleum Recovery and Transportation

Environmental problems are created by drilling oil wells and extracting fluids because the petroleum pumped up from deep reservoir rocks is often accompanied by large volumes of salt water.

This brine contains numerous impurities, so it must either be injected back into the reservoir rocks or treated for safe surface disposal.

Petroleum usually must also be transported long distances by tanker or pipeline to reach a refinery.

Transport of petroleum occasionally leads to accidental spills.

Oil spills, especially in large volumes, can be detrimental to wildlife and habitat